Coil annealing furnace



W. H. DAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE Aug. 16, 1949.

11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 Fmi., i?

FHS. E.

/f N/ h//h/ I INVENTORL H|5 ATTORNEY.

W. H.,'DAILEY, JR

coIL ANNEALING FURNACE Aug. 16, 1949.

11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1946 FIE-E- Aug.

Filed Feb. 23, 1946 W. H. DAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE,

1l Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: WMM/w H @c7/5K Je..

HIS ATTORNEY.

Aug. 16, 1949. w. H. BAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALNG FURNACE- 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 INVENToR:

HIS ATTORNEY.

Allg-A 16 1949- w. H. DAILEY, JR .2,479,102

COIL ANNEALING FURNAE Filed Feb. 25, 1946 Fils. 1n-

11 Sheets-Sheet 6 a Z al.

'il W4 INVENTOR.

H15 ATTORNEY.

All@ 16, 1949 w. H. BAILEY, JR 2,479,102

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE H15 ATTORNEY.

Aug- 16 1949- w. H. DAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE l1 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 23, 1946 INVENTOR: MZK/M /X JQ,

' HIS ATTORNEY.

Aug. 16, 1949.

W. H. DAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 23, 1946 INVENTOR: Mmc/M Q/fK/e,

Aug. 16, 1949. w. H. DAILEY, JR

COIL ANNEALING FURNACE l1 Sheets-Sheet lO Filed Feb. 23, 1946 A W M M fia .i al -n H .l 1 1 l Aug. 16, 1949. w. H; BAILEY, JR

COIL `ANNEALING FURNACE 1l Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 FIEL` 21- .lilllll H l5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 A 2,479,102 con. ANNEALmG Fonseca William H. Dailey, Jr.,

Carnegie-Illinois Steel tion of New Jersey Library. Pa., assignor to Corporation, a corpora- Application Februaryj23, 1,946, Serial No. 649;35 y

(Sillaiml.l

The present invention relates to an improved I furnace for the annealing of coils of steel strip.

Conventional strip have heretofore comprised flat steel bases mounting refractory pedestals to support a number of piles of the coiled product, the coilsv being enclosed within inner protective covers enclosed by large bell-type outer covers restingA onl the bases and completely enclosing the inner covers. The old furnaces were generally gas-fired by radient tube-type heaters. and most of the heat was transferred to the coils |by radiation from the furnace to the inner covers and from the inner covers to the coils. However. in the prior art constructions, circulation of annealingl atmosphere inside the inner covers eected a small amount of heat transfer from the inner cover to the coiled charge by convection. A deoxidizing atmosphere was usually maintained within the inner covers at all times, the deoxidizing gas generally being exhausted through purging outlets or through sand seals at the base of the inner covers.

There are numerous disadvantages inherent in the use of the prior art construction above briey described. Among these disadvantages are the 'high cost ofthe furnace bases and their requirement oi' a large floor area for installation; slowness of heating and coolingof the coil charge;

lack of uniformity of heat transfer, and excessive` expense in operation and rnaintenance` of the furnaces.

One object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other objectionable features inherent in the prior art furnaces. Among other objects of the invention are: to provide means for annealing steel products in coiled form which means is materially less expensive to build and install than prior art conventional equipment of similar capacity; to provide means for annealing strip products in coiled Aform which requires much iess floor space than prior art equipment to provide means for annealing strip product in coiled form wherein the greater part of the heat transfer is effected by convection; to provide for more rapid and uniform heating and cooling of the charge; to provide coil annealing means which are more economical to operate and maintain than prior art furnaces; and to construct and arrange the various instrumentalitles herein shown and specically described so that they individually and collectively perform the various functions set forth.

The invention will Ibe ence to the accompanying drawings, the followmeans for heating coils of steel fully apparent by referl In the dra gs: Figure 1 is view in vertical longitudinal section illustrating a preferred embodiment oi' the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail in vertical section of the lower portion of the furnace.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line III-UI of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan of the 'base of the furnace. Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line V-'V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section 0f the top portion of the furnace.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the furnace. Figure 8 is a detail section on line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line IX-IX of Figure 8. Figure 10 is an elevation as viewed from the left of Figure 7, showing the piping layout of the furnace.

Figure 11 is a partial plan view of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a section on line m-XII of Figure 7.

Figure 13 is a section yon line XIII- of Figure 7.

Figure 14 is a section online XIV--m'V of Figure 10. yFigure l5 is a section on line XV-XV of Fig..

ure 16.

Figure 16 is a detail of an upper portion of the furnace casing, taken on line XVI-XVI of Figure 15, showing principally the gas circulation.

Figure 17 is a section on line XVH-XVE of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a vertical section on line la XVIII of Figure l5.

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic horizontal section illustrating a slight modification.

Figure 20 is a similar vertical section illustrating a further modification.

Figure 21 is a vertical'section illustrating another modification. n

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic vertical section illustrating a further modification.

As will hereinafter appear more fully, the various embodiments of the invention illustrated show novel annealing furnaces peculiarly well suited for quickly and inexpensively heating coils of steel strip stacked one upon the other, wherein the heat transfer is eilected chiefly by convection, vthus eliminating the inner covers generally employed in prior types of heating apparatus. 55 Each furnace illustrated comprises, briefly, a

ing detailed description, and "the appended claims.

.healing treatment,

housing is adapted to be an intermediate casing or transfer appilatus,f anic; r tributing means whereby hea rans er eltctl by convection rather than by radiation as in conventional furnaces heretofore generally useiferrlng first to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 18 inclusive, the disclosure will be segregated under four general headings each briefly describing a fundamental unit of the entire system as follows the furnace base; the furnace housing, the hea transfer apparatus: distribution means.

lower base portion, furnace housing, heat and the heat The furnace base ase of the furnace is shown in detail in FigTilresb2 to 5, and is indicated generally by reference numeral I6.

The base comp ard rail I2 arranged radially as shown, a solid supporting framework for a circular plate I6 which rests thereon. Mounted on top of the plate Il isa plurality of substantially concentric rings I6 of corrugated heat-resisting metal, which provide a support for a cap I8 which is placed over the rings after the spaces between them have been filled in with insulating mate- 26. riagurrounding the base .plate N and welded thereto at its lower edge is an annular ring 22 which assists in retaining the ,insulating material under the cap I6. A plurality of upright guide pins 2l are welded or otherwise secured to the base Il and ring 22 so as to accurately position the furnace housing 26 on the base. After cap I6 has been installed, an upper supporting plate 2B is centered on the cap, and a gas circulating separator member 30 (disclosed more fully in my copending application Serial No. 624,788, led October 26, 1945, later abandoned) is superposed Y coils of strip material, indicated at S, to be annealed, are stacked one over the other with the gas circulating separator plate 30 -interposed between adjacent coils. The gas circulating separator member comprises centrally apertured upper and lower horizontal plates with a multiplicity of curved upright metal vanes `whose upper and lower edges are secured to said upper and lower plates, the vanes defining a multiplicity of curved gas circulating passages through which the gas is adapted to flow transversely between the superposed coils of the stack being treated. Thus an upright stack of the de# sired height can be readily assembled for anthis stacking, of course, being done after the housing 26 has been removed. The lifted by a suitable tackle suspended from an overhead traveling crane. and the pins 26 serve to facilitate properly positioning or centering the housing when it is again placed on the supporting base, as will be understood.

.A suitable conduit 32 is provided for the insertion of a thermocouple through the base, this conduit projecting `through an opening 6I formed in the center of the upper supporting plate 26 and thus providing access for the determination of temperature conditions of the gases inside the furnace.`

es a series of lengths of standto form The furnace housing The furnace housing, indicated as a whole at 26, is illustrated in detail in Figures 1 to 3, and

consists of an outer gas-tight shell 36 formed of a steel plate which is of sumciently heavy gauge steel to act as a support for the heat transfer apparatus f at the top, described more fully hereinafter, and

of the inner shell due to temperature variations.`

there is no rigid connection between the shells 36 and 36. and the base portion I2 of the outer shell is designed to accommodate the inner shell by a sliding .fit only. The lower end of the furnace housing enters a body of sealing sand M retained in the annular channel I6 formed in the base member l0, as shown in Figure 1. Thus the sand seal restricts the outer flow of gases contained within the housing 26. The housing is equipped on its exterior with lugs 66 which are suitably perforated to slide over the guide pins 26 which are secured to the base member l0.

The construction of the top or roof 66 of the housing 26 is best shown in Figures 1 and 6. This top includes a spider-like frame structure 62 which supports an upright plate M having pillow blocks 66 and 66 mounted thereon supporting antifriction bearings 60 and 62 which rotatably support a shaft 64 having a fan or impeller 66 secured to the lower end thereof. At its upper end the shaft carries a pulley 66 which is adapted to be driven through belt 10 from a pulley 12 secured to the armature shaft of a motor 1I. also mounted on the upright plate 64. The fan impeller 66 and the lower end of the fan shaft are subjected to the intense heat of a heating lmeans to be described hereinafter, and therefore special means are provided for cooling the lower portion of the fan shaft 66 and at least the lower bearing 60 supporting it. This cooling means includes a sleeve 'i6 which contacts the shaft only at restricted areas 18 and 60, there being a clearance space 62 formed therein. The exterior of the sleeve 16 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves, all as more fully set forth in copending application Serial No. 650,082, filed February 25, 1946, now Patent No. 2,439,127, in which I am co-inventor with Edward A. DiNucci. l

The bearing 60 includes a raceway bushing 66 which surrounds the sleeve and on which conventional bearing rollers travel. A casing 66 encloses pipes 68 connect with a suitable supply of compressed air. These pipes are equipped with v nozzles 6l which extend through the casing 66 and are adapted to impinge jets of cooling air on annular fins 92 formed by grooving the upper end of the sleeve 16. The cooling air impinged on the fins is adapted to flow downwardly through the grooves formed in the exterior of the sleeve, and to be expelled to the atmosphere at the ends of the slots in the sleeve which terminate beyond the lower end of the raceway bushing 6l.

The top 66 of the housing includes a top plate 64 to which is welded or otherwisel secured .a stuiilng box housing I6' surrounding the lower 'portion of the sleeve 16 and having a gland nut 66 for compressing packing |66 around the lower portion of the sleeve so as to prevent the outflow of gaseous atmosphere from the interior of the i ing water,

lcompressed air reservoir (not shown).

clearance space between the sleeve 10 on the tan shaft 64 and the inner wall of the stuing box.

Heat transfer apparatus The heat transfer apparatus or heat exchanger is best shown in Figures 1 and 'l to 14 inclusive.

Air for combustion enters the apparatus at the' top of the furnace and passes down through an entry pipe |04 into an air inlet manifold |00. A series of concentric loops of pipe |08 open into the manifold |00, and continue around the furnace to an exhaust manifold where the products of combustion are exhausted to atmosphere through pipe Two combustion gas supply lines ||0 and H0b are carried through the entry air pipe |00, with branch lines ||4 which terminate in nozzles ||6 projecting into the heater pipes |08. These nozzles are surrounded by streams of air to support combustion, and are designed to provide a controlled mixing action of the gas and air. The combustible gas and air mixture is ignited by an electric spark device or other suitable means located in the air manifold I 90, and all combustion takes place within the heater pipes 08. A plurality of heat-resisting metal hangers |20 and tube supports |22 are provided at suitably spaced intervals to support the heater pipes. A

Upon completion of the heating cycle, that is to say. after the stack of coils has been subjected to an annealing heat of desired temperature for a predetermined time interval, the gas will be shut oi! and air will be circulated through the heater pipes for cooling. After the heater pipes have cooled sufficiently, the air will be shut olf and then cold water will be slowly added via pipe- |01 to the inlet manifold |04 and circulated through the heating pipes to the exhaust manifold |09, where a cooling water overflow |24 is provided. After the burner pipes have been illled with coolthe circulating fan 86 may be oper-v ated to eect rapid cooling of the atmospheric gases. Cooling water will be slphoned by pipe |05 from the yheater tubes upon completion of the cooling cycle. Suitable pipe connections making the above operations possible are indicated in Figure 10, as indicated by the legends and arrows of this ligure. Pipes ii and lill supply gas and air respectively for a pilot lighter of conventional form. The coolant, which is usually water, is supplied to the manifold |06 by a pipe |01.

Fuel gas is supplied to the burner pipes by supply main ||0, and air to support combustion is supplied by pipe |I2 which connects with a The air for cooling the fan shaft and bearing is conveniently supplied via pipe 89 from the same source as that which furnishes the combustion air, the pipe 99 being connected by a fitting 9| with the air supply pipe H2, as shown in Figure 10.

Heat distribution means The construction and arrangement of the means for eecting eilicient circulation of hot atmospheric gases inside the furnace are best four vertical ports its bounded jointly by the solid portions of shell |21 and the substantially Uv-shaped plates III. The annular space between the central nome |02 and the outer shell |26 is closed by a bottom ring-plate ist, and a top circular ring plate |21 having a central opening |09 therein is welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the intermediate shell |21 as shown.

The atmospheric gas is circulated around the heater tubes `'|00 by the fan, then downwardly through the outside passages |26 in the gas distributar |20, and inwardly through the center of the furnace through vertical ports |30 and out through the central nozzle |32 of the distributor, which directs the ilow downwardly through the open centers or voids in the coils S. The ilow is shown in Figures 1 and 15 to 18 inclusive. As

indicated by the arrows in these figures, the direction of flow introduced by the circulating fan is controlled by the gas distributing structure illustrated. This structure comprises an outer cylindrical shell |25, an intermediate shell |21 concentric therewith having four equally spaced ports |30 formed in the lower portion thereof, a central nozzle |32, and a circular plate |29 having directed downwardly through the centers of me coils, as indicated by the arrows, thence upwardly through the separator plates I0 between the adjacent coils and thence upwardly between the outer surface of the coils S and the inner surface of the furnace housing to the top of the furnace. At this region a certain portion of the gas is again drawn downwardly through the coils, due to the inspirating eil'ect of the gas distributor nozzle |32, while the balance of the gas continues upwardly through the ports in the distributor and back through central opening |39 to the circulating fan.

General Although the above detailed description of the improved apparatus for annealing coiled strip material discloses a desirable arrangement the practicability of which has been demonstrated in practice by use of the single stand furnace illustrated. the invention is not limited to this particular design and arrangement. Various means for circulating hot atmospheric gas are possible by alternate designs of heat distribution means referred to in the modifications described below, in connection with Figures 21 to 24.

My improved convection furnace can be employed for annealing coils either in single piles or ultiple piles, and in all of these alternative adaptations of the invention the heat transfer will be made substantially entirely by convection rather than by radiation as in conventional fur naces heretofore generally used by the industry. Such modications are shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figures 19 to 22 inclusive.

Figure 19 shows a single stand furnace, and incorporates means for maintaining an axial iiow of the circulating hot gases by use of a motordriven fan 60* eiective to draw the hot gases over heat exchanger I 38 comprising a multiplicity of heater tubes adapted for either heating or cooling the gases. The fan blows the gases directly downwardly, as indicated by the central arrows, through the distributor nozzle |30, and into the hollow centers ofthe stack of coiled strip S. As described in the preferred construction, air circulating separators are interposed between adjacent coils, and a portion of the laterally as indicated by the arrows in the figure. Figure 20 illustrates. a modification in which a centrifugal type of fan 86h draws relatively cool gas into the center and then forces the gas outgas circulates- Figures 21 and 22 show a multiple stand ar-" rangement. As illustrated in these figures. there are three stacks of coils in a row, and the furnace will generallybe two rows deep.

In the modification of Figure 21 there is a f motor-driven fan 66 located above the heat ex-` changer tubes- IM. This fan draws the gases over the tubes, as indicated by the arrows, before circulating it downwardly through the gas distributor nozzle |46.' As in the other figures, part of the gas escapes laterally through the gas separators interposed between adjacent coils, the direction of circulation being indicated by the arrows.

In the modification of FigureL22, the motor- A driven circulating fan Il draws the gases through an intake nozzle I, circulates the gas around heat exchanger tubes l", the gas being directed downwardly through nonies |52 formed in a main ISI at spaced intervals aligned with the centers of the-openings in the several stacks of coils. as shown. Y

The inner furnace shell 3l of Figure 1, as well as the inner shell ll shown in Figures 19 and 20,

serve to prevent oxygen which may be present in the refractory insulating material 40 of the housing, from uniting with the hydrogen or other gas which might be present in the annealing atmosphere gas. Thus the formation of surface oxides on the material being annealed is prevented. The inner shells II and 38 also serve to keep the refractory material in the furnace covers in their proper place in the structure.

The conjoint action of the structure and arrangement herein claimed makes possible a greatly increased output of annealed coiled product due largely to the increased overall heat transfer eiliciency. Such increased efliciency is due in part to effecting the heat vtransfer chiey by convection of the hot deoxidizingas which is circulated downwardly by the. fan and in contact with the heating means and thence by coaction with the described gas distributionV structure in cooperation with the separators interposed between the adjacent coils. 'I'he lateral passages in the separators allow the hot deoxldizing gas to i'low laterally between the coils and thus transfer heat through the ends of the coils by conduction, thus insuring substantially uniform heating over all parts of each coil in the stack regardless of the size or diameter of the coil. 'I'he gas flowing outwardly through the lateral passages of the gas circulating separators then flows upwardly and fan surrounded by the heating means,

stitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in l the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A furnace for annealing coils of metal strip, comprising a support on which the coils are adapted to be vertically stacked, separators between adjacent coils having a multiplicity of lateral passageways ,therein. a cover enclosing said coils and having a gaseous medium therein, heating means within the top portion of the cover, a

tribution structure having portions below the fan and the heating means effective in conjunction with said fan to cause the gaseous medium' to dll flow in heat exchange contact with said heating means downwardly through the centers of said coils, laterally through the passages of said separators and then upwardly in contact with the exterior of said coils.

g. A furnace for annealing coils of metal strip, l

comprising a support on which the coils are adapted to be vertically stacked, separators between adjacent coils having a multiplicity of lateral passageways therein, a cover enclosing said coils and having a gaseous medium therein, a heat exchanger within the top portion of the cover. a fan surrounded by the heat exchanger and secured to a shaft supported in bearings mounted outside of and-above the furnace top, means for air cooling at least one of said bearings and the lower portion of the fan shaft, and a gas distribution structure having portions below the fan and the heat exchanger` effective in conjunction with said fan to cause a gaseous medium to flow in contact with said heat exchanger, thence downwardly through the centers of the coils, laterally through the passages of said separators. and then upwardly in contact with the exterior of the coils.

3. A furnace for annealing coils of metal strip chiefly by convection and conduction, comprising a support on which the coils are adapted to'be vertically stacked, a cover enclosing said coils, a heat exchanger including a multiplicity of loops of pipe within said cover. respective inlet and outlet manifolds with which the ends of said loops communicate, means for delivering fuel gas to the inlet ends of said loops of pipe, the inlet ends of -said loops opening into the inlet manifolds, a

combustion air inlet duct connected to the inlet manifold, a spent gas outlet duct leading from the outlet manifold. means for supplying a coolant in contact with theexterior surfaces of the coils,4 v

thereby heating such surfaces by convection from both the inside and Aoutside and by conduction from the top and bottom ends of the coils. Pracl tice has demonstrated that any diameter of coils,

in stacks as high as 13 feet,l can be successfully f and very quickly annealed.

While in the foregoing disclosure I have described in considerable detail preferred structures and arrangements which are regarded as highly to said loops of pipe, and means for withdrawing the'coolant from the apparatus via one of said manifolds.

4. A furnace for annealing coils of metal strip chiefly by convection and conduction. comprising a support on which the metal coils are adapted to be vertically stacked, a heat exchanger comprising a multiplicity. of substantially circular v loops of pipe whose opposite ends open into respective inlet and outlet manifolds, means supplying fuel to the ends of said loops connected to the inlet manifold, means supplying combustion air to the inlet manifold, a fan substantially surrounded by said loops of pipe, means for supplying a deoxidizing gas to the furnace. a gas distribution structure including an outer cylindrical shell surrounding the heat exchanger and the fan. an inner nozzle portion for directing the heated d eoxidizing gases downwardly through the central void of the stack of coils, acircular plate closing the top of said nozzle portion and having ports therein located outwardly beyond the nasale pora gas distion, an intermediate shell embracing said circular plate, a ring plate spaced above said circular plate and secured to the top of said intermediate shell, said intermediate shell having a plurality of lateral ports in its lower portion, a bottom plate beyond which said nozzle extends, and a plurality of substantially U-shaped upright partition shells adjacent the latter ports and secured at their top edges to said circular plate and at their bottom edges to said bottom plate, the parts defined being thus so constructed and arranged that the fan compels a circulation of the hot deoxidizing gas downwardiv through the centers of the coils, laterally through the passages in the spacer members interposed between adjacent coils, and upwardly in contact with the exteriors of the coils.

5. A furnace for annealing metal strip, comprising a support for said strip, a cover enclosing said strip and having a gaseous medium therein, a heat exchanger within the top portion of the cover, a fan surrounded by the heat exchanger and secured to a shaft supported lin bearings mounted outside of and above the furnace top, means for air cooling at least one of said bearings and the lower portion of the fan shaft, and a gas distribution structure within said cover having portions below the. fan and the heat exchanger effective in conjunction with said fan to cause a gaseous medium to flow in contact with said heat exchanger, thence downwardly around the strip.

10 6. A furnace for annealing coils of metal strip, comprising a support on which the coils are adapted to be vertically stacked, separators between adjacent coils having a multiplicity of lateral passageways therein, a rcover enclosing said coils and having a gaseous medium therein, heating means within the cover, a fan surrounded by the heating means, a gas distribution structure having portions between the fan and the heating means effective in conjunction with said fan to cause the gaseous medium to iiow in heat exchange contact with said heating means through the centers of said coils, laterally through the passages of said separators and then in contact with the exterior of said coils.

WILLIAM H. DAILEY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,564,566 Harris Dec. 8, 1925 1,691,259 Tamele Nov. 13, 1928 1,711,821 Abbott May 7, 1929 1,884,898 Smith Oct. 25, 1932 2,039,429 Lydon May 5, 1936 2,181,928 Vaughan Dec. 5, 1939 2,245,647 Burby et al June 17, 1941 

